Parent and Family Newsletter

October, 2017

Parent and Family Newsletter

October, 2017

THUNDER IS COMING...

Herd Homecoming 2017

Parent and Family Weekend Fast Approaching!

Ahhh, Marshall University in the Fall...changing leaves, cooler weather, football and Parent and Family Weekend all culminate for the perfect homecoming week! We are excited for you to join us in October!

A Message from the Vice President for Student Affairs, Cedric Gathings

Dear families,

October is here and the fall semester at Marshall is in full swing! Marshall’s campus is beautiful this time of year and so many exciting things are happening. We want to share them with you to encourage your student to take advantage of each opportunity.

Other than homecoming, we have so many campus and community events our students can take part in. We know student success takes place inside and outside the classroom and want our students to get involved! If they have questions about clubs, activities or campus events, they can visit Student Affairs in the Memorial Student Center and we can help them find what is right for them!

Now we know that October brings fun with football games, Homecoming, and all the other activities on campus and around. But, October also brings midterms and this is the time our students need to practice time management and really use the resources Marshall offers. Whether it is tutoring, the Writing Center, or a session with our Student Advocate and Success Specialist to help with an academic success plan, we can help our students succeed. This newsletter will help you learn more ways to help students be successful academically and we want you to pass this along to our students!

Remember Student Affairs is here to help our students navigate Marshall University and we are a resource for our students and you.

Go Herd!

Cedric Gathings

Vice President for Student Affairs

We Are...Marshall!

Come for the Parent and Family Weekend, stay for Thundering Herd Football! Marshall University Homecoming is a week-long celebration of the #marshallufamily and the history of this storied institution. Fun and games begin Monday, October 9th and flow through the week, culminating in the Marshall vs Old Dominion matchup Saturday, October 14th.

5 Tips to Help Your Student Get Prepared for Midterms

1. Encourage them to start now! Students need to develop a study plan and outline for their exams with key points and deadlines. This can also help alleviate stress so they are not cramming the night before.

2. Find their perfect study space. Some students like music or some need total silence. Students can reserve study rooms in the Drinko Library to help them have a quiet place to study. Also, step away from the cell phone! We all know how distracting cell phones can be. Encourage your student to turn it off when they are studying and really need to focus.

3. Connect with professors. Students should visit professors during office hours to get tips and assistance on anything they are not understanding.

4. Study groups, tutoring, and more! Students really need to take advantage of the resources we have available for their academic success.

5. Take a break. Rest, eating healthy, and getting exercise is extremely important during midterms. Students might want to stress eat, but eating “brain food” snacks and having regular meals will produce better results. Also, stepping away from studying, taking a walk, using the Rec Center, taking a break with friends can help students come back to studying with a fresh perspective.

These are just a few tips to help your student ace their midterms. Anytime a student needs assistance or just wants information they can contact our Student Advocate and Success Specialist at michelle.barbour@marshall.edu for more tips.

Student Services Highlight: Tutoring Services/Writing Center

Tutoring Services

The University College Tutoring Center provides a welcoming environment for any one struggling in their college courses. Students may receive help in any number of courses from Math and English to Communications, Sciences, Engineering and more!

The Tutoring Center utilizes Peer Tutors, students who have demonstrated expertise in the subject area(s) they tutor and have obtained recommendations from appropriate faculty members. Scheduling is easy and can be done as a one-shot campaign for a better grade or a recurring series to set the student's highest standards of education.

Students can stop by University College in Smith Communications Building (Room 211) or submit a Tutor Request form.

TUTORING TIPS

Students should come to the Tutoring Center prepared to become active, independent learners. The following tips will help you, the student, reach your goal of academic success:

Plan ahead—the tutor will be able to assist you more appropriately if you do not wait until the day of or day before the test or deadline.

Come to your tutoring session prepared to work on something specific.

Ask for help. Don’t be shy; tutors are here to assist you.

Be sure to eat before you come to the Tutoring Center.

Get adequate sleep the night before.

Think positively!

Make sure you’ve made an attempt to complete your work yourself, and that you have at least a basic understanding of what you need help with. The tutor’s job is to prepare you to do your work independently, not to do your work for you.

Consider making an appointment – even though drop-in tutoring is available without an appointment being necessary, it may help to meet with the tutor in advance and plan your session(s).

The Writing Center

The Marshall University Writing Center is a free tutoring service for all Marshall students who want help with their writing. The Writing Center is staffed with graduate and undergraduate students ready to help you at any stage of the writing process. Tutors can be consulted on any writing assignment from any discipline.

The Marshall University Writing Center also partners with the Marshall University librarians. The “Research Librarian” tutor helps with the research aspect of writing (including citation methods). If you are struggling to understand how to work with sources or are simply curious about the resources available through our libraries, make a special appointment with the tutor designated as “Research Librarian.”